First Star
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Caps coach Bruce Boudreau calls F David Steckel a player “you can win with.” He proved it again on Monday night, tipping home the game-winning goal in overtime — off a wrist shot by teammate Brooks Laich — to give the Caps 5-4 a win.
Second Star
Caps F Viktor Kozlov scored a critical goal early in the second period with his team trailing 1-0 and getting dominated. His shot from the slot on an Alex Ovechkin feed settled Washington. Later added the go-ahead goal at 6:07 of the third.
Third Star
Who else but Sidney Crosby would Pittsburgh turn to late in game down a goal? Scored at 15:42 of the third to tie game at 4, trapping a point shot and sliding it past Caps G Simeon Varlamov. Also had an assist.
Oops!
Early in first, Caps D Milan Jurcina pinched in toward the blue line at the wrong time. His decision led to a 2-on-1 break for Penguins and a pass from Crosby to Bill Guerin for a goal and a 1-0 lead.
From the bench
Caps coach Bruce Boudreau chose to leave F Donald Brashear — just back from a six-game suspension — out of the lineup on his first day eligible to return. Tyler Sloan and Michael Nylander were the other healthy scratches.
Penguins coach Dan Bylsma was again without star D Sergei Gonchar, injured in Game 4 during a knee-on-knee collision with fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin.
